Combination rake and fork.



N0. 705,008. Patented lulyi5, I902.

A. ZWICKER.

COMBINATION RAKE AND FORK.

(Application filed Jan. 31, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE;

AUGUST ZTVICKER, OF RUSK, TEXAS.

COMBINATION RAKE AND FORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,008, dated July 15,1902.

Application filed January 31, 1902. Serial No. 92,048. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that L'AUGUST ZWICKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rusk, in the county of Cherokee and State of Texas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in a Combination Rake and Fork, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined fork and rake which is capable by asimple adj ustment of use either as a rake or a fork.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple combination farmimplement of such construction that it may be readily adjusted to permitthe essential components thereof to be used individually withoutinterference of one with the other and to combine in one implement atacomparatively reduced expense of manufacture two devices which arefrequently used in farming and other work.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved implement,showing the rake attachment projectedin dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same, also showing the rake implement in dotted lines.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the views.

The numeral 1 designates a handle, prefer ably constructed of wood andof suitable length, and rigidly attached to the forward extremitythereof is a fork 2, which in the present instance has three tines.

The device as thus far described is to all intents and purposes similarto theordinary fork construction and has the forward extremity of thehandle sheathed or covered by a metallic elongated wear-thimble 3. Onthe forward extremity of the handle 1 and bearing upon the thimble 3 isa slidable sleeve 4, having a lower socket 5, in which the rear end of arake-bar 6 is detachably secured by a removable pin 7, the front end ofsaid bar being rigidly connected to a rake-head 8, from. which depend aplurality ofrake-teeth 9 of that class which is removably held by nuts10 and capable of replacement in the event of breakage. Between the bar6 and the cross-head strap-braces 11 are disposed and secured, andforwardly projecting from and secured to the rake-head 8, the saidbraces 11, and the front extremity of the bar 6 are a series ofguide-clips 12, braced by straps 13, passing under the rake head andsecured thereto in part and also to the said rake-head and the rake-bar.The forward extremities 13 of the guide-clips 12 are upturnedandprovided with openings 14, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1,and through the said openings 14 the tines of the fork 2 are inserted,-the openings 14 being large enough to compensate for the divergence ofthe outer tines when the rake attachment is moved forwardly intooperative position, as shown by dotted lines.

It is obvious that some means must be pro vided for locking the rakeattachment in'its projected or operative position, and for this purposea spring-catch 15 is secured at its front extremity to the rake and hasits rear terminal loosely mounted in a loop 16 on the sleeve 4, saidspring at an intermediate point adjacent to the sleeve being formed witha drop or shoulder 17 to snap over the crosshead 18 of the fork 2, asshown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The portion of the spring-catch betweenthe shoulder 17 and the retainingdoop 16 is adapted to be engaged by thefinger of the operator in releasing said shoulder from the cross-head 18of the fork when it is desired to retract the rake attachment, the saidloop 16 serving to retain the spring in positive relation to the sleeve4, so that it will efiectually serve as a lock and be prevented frommoving laterally and becoming accidentally disengaged.

The handle 1 and thimble 3 at a suitable distance rearwardly from thefront extremity of said parts are diametrically reduced gradually, as at19, so that when the sleeve 4 is drawn backwardly to retract the rakeattach ment the latter will be prevented from slipping forwardly when itis desired to have the device arranged for use as a fork and as clearlyshown in full lines in both figures. When the use of the rake attachmentis desired, the sleeve 4 is pushed outwardly to the dotted-line positionor until the shoulder 17 of the catch-spring 15 engages the cross-head18 of the fork, the said catch-spring maintaining the rake attachment inits projected position with sufficient resistance to avoid acci dentaldisengagement or retraction of the said rake attachment, and therebypermit the latter to be used in a practical manner as a rake.

The improved combination device will be found exceptionally useful andis comparatively inexpensive as well as strong and durable, and changesin the form, proportions, dimensions,and minor details may be resortedto without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1.An implement of the class set forth having a handle with a fork, and arake attachment having a sliding connection with both the handle and thetines of the fork.

2. An implement of the class set forth comprising a'fork having ahandle, a rake attachment having slidable connections with both thehandle and the tines of the fork, and a locking device carried by therake attachment to engage a portion of the fork to hold said attachmentin operative projected position.

3. An implement of the class set forth comprising a fork having ahandle, and a rake attachment having forwardly-projecting guide clipsengaging the tines of the fork, and a sleeve movable on the handle.

4. An implement of the class set forth, comprising a fork having ahandle with a diametric reduction in rear of its forwardextremity, arake attachment provided with guide de vices engaging the tines of thefork, and a sleeve movable on the handle, and a locking device carriedby the attachment for engagement with a portion of the fork to maintainthe said attachment in projected operative position.

5. An implement of the class set forth comprising a fork with a handleand a rake attachment having a series of forwardly-projectingguide-clips with upturned ends engaging the tines of the fork, and asleeve slidably mounted on the handle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST ZWIOKER.

Witnesses:

J OE NICKERSON, W. P. ARDREY.

